Thoughts from Bayern’s Champions League defeat against Real

Manuel Veth –

As the dust settles from two remarkably different Champions League semi final-second fixtures, Manuel Veth brings you his view on what he learnt, and in some cases – already knew – from the Clash of the Titans between Bayern and Real.

Disappointments for Bayern and celebrations for Real

The two semi-finals between Bayern and Real Madrid came just as advertised. Two of the world’s biggest clubs clashed in a battle of titans. No other fixture has been played more often than Bayern against Real and no other fixture has more history than the clash between the record champions from Germany and Spain.

As a result, both matches were on a knives-edge and as expected the Clash of the Titans came down to fine margins. Bayern in many ways were the better of the two sides but also made more individual mistakes, which on this level will cost you the game.

Real Madrid, in the meantime, were perhaps lucky to advance in the end. At the same time, there is no fortune/or misfortune in football. Football on that level is about confidence and the ability to make the second last mistake. In both categories Real, perhaps fueled by having won the last two Champions League trophies, seem to be a category ahead of the Bavarians.

“I never had any doubt about reaching the final”, Toni Kroos would later tell the media. That confidence got Real through and while Bayern are disappointed about their own failure Real could set the stage for three in a row in Kyiv.

Bayern can raise their game for big fixtures

Despite the disappointment, the fixtures against Real also had their positive. International media, in particular, had raised the question of whether Bayern, used to facing poor opposition in the domestic league, could raise their game for the big occasion.

The Champions League semi-final Real against Bayern was a tightly fought affair. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

The defeat aside, the answer, is a resounding yes. Bayern were dominant against Real Madrid and, in the end, fine margins made the difference. The Bavarians, in fact, were brilliant and despite missing key players like Jérôme Boateng, Arjen Robben, Kingsley Coman and Arturo Vidal were on par with a Real Madrid side that has spent a multitude in recent years to assemble their side.

The conclusion, therefore, is Bayern can certainly raise their game for the big occasion. But sadly, the Bavarians also lack the killer punch at the moment to make the final step.

La Bestia Negra no more

Since beating Barcelona at the 2013 Champions League semi-final stage Bayern have been eliminated by Spanish opposition in the last five tournaments.

In 2014 Real Madrid handily defeated a Bayern side coached by Pep Guardiola, who made several tactical mistakes as Bayern were beaten 5-0 on aggregate. In 2015 Barcelona was the culprit, in 2016 Bayern were knocked out by Atlético and in 2017 Real Madrid, controversially, eliminated Bayern.

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Known as La Bestia Negra among Real Madrid fans for many years Los Blancos no longer need to fear the Bavarians. In fact, Spanish sides now seem to be Bayern’s main obstacle when it comes to finally winning their sixth Champions League trophy.

The end of an era?

This could be the end of an era for both Bayern and Real Madrid. Key players on both sides are nearing the end of a cycle and combatants Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Arjen Robben, and Frank Ribéry could soon ride into the sunset.

Even the likes of Jérôme Boateng and Arturo Vidal could soon be off to other pastures. But while Real Madrid could be celebrating their end of an era with the title in Kyiv, Bayern will have to do their rebuild without a major title celebration.

In fact, it remains to be seen whether the likes of Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman and Niklas Süle can walk in the footsteps of a Bayern side that has reached the semi-final stage of the Champions League six times in the last seven years.

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others works for the Bundesliga and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada. Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth. Or contact him via email: [email protected]

None of these guys cost as much Tolisso or Sanches will cost Bayern and aside from CR and Bale there’s really no big name price attached to these guys. I think there are a number of important takeaways from this tie that have been recapped well here but the “overpriced, uber expensive Galacticos” label kind of falls flat in recent years.

Fair point. Of course, they spent €200m on Bale and Ronaldo. Tolisso cost €40m and Sanches has already earned some of his transfer cost on his loan move to Swansea. Why I do think you have a point the transfer sum for CR7 and Bale overshadow everything.

I am from India and generally do not comment. Being an indian I belong to the very significant minority whivh is a die hard fan of Die Roten. Majority you find will be fans of with Utd, Barca or Real.

But I have some observations. Being an army guy all I know is if u r out there it has to be to win.
Analyses only make u feel good. Coming to the semi final tie, Bayern did dominate, true. But they dominated without direction. We can go on discussing tactics. Frankly I found nothing wrong with Jupp’s strategy. But for the strategy to fructify, u have to have players who execute it on the pitch. We can go on discussing strategies and tactics. But we somehow miss the finer details.
Yes Bayern did have possession. But it was not so much that would change the game. Besides, talking of fi er details, I found the midfield completely lacking in its performance. You may dominate the ball but I have to be able to put it shed from in between the defence. Sadly we could not do that. I did not see any domination in winning aerial duals. Switching sides was not very Bayern like.

Worst I found was the quality of first touch. It was downright pathetic, by Bayern’s standards.
I found Real much better at counter pressing . If you lose the ball you have to win it bak. I found our players running into Real players dribbling and eventually losing the ball.
I found our def not up to the task as most of the time they would allow real to get past them in 1 on 1 duals.

Our passes were not accurate. It actually was a repeat of the first leg.
Over corners and set plays were far from perfect, going by Bayern’s standards.
In the final minutes not one corner was delivered into the box.

In the later stages it came to KImmich asking for fouls which looked like a sign of helplessness.

I also found jackpots being missed by Toliso or Alcantara (I m not sure) right inside the box. And mind you atleast one of them was because of pathetic first touch.

Toliso did sweat out a lot in the midfield, but when pressed inside our own area he cracked, let’s face it. I feel it’s human for Ulreich not to be expecting that pass and the way it was made.

All a result of a total communication breakdown.

Frankly, even before the ties, I told myself that if at all anyone can do something it was Jupp. And he did do it. Because going by skill and experience, Bayern as a team was not up to it.

I may be sounding too cynical, but thts because I love Bayern. And I feel a critical analysis is necessary.
And personally I feel Bayern should stick to the youth academy than go out searching for players outside Ike a possible Martial who have been perpetual failures elsewhere. U have promising players in your own backyard.

And now with Niko Kovacs as the manager, I thing Bayern shud not experiment. And also be prepared for further setback. Coz ribery nd robbed will go someday, u need good wingers, good midfielders. The most ideal thing is stick to the red spirit.